jcentertainment7b.doc/1,977 words/50”/Sea July 2001
HEAD: Cool Fusion
SUBHEAD: Onboard entertainment centers are being invaded by digital technology
By James Corns
fusion (fy zh n) n. [L fusio] 1: a union by or as if by melting 2: a merging of diverse, distinct or separate elements into a unified whole 3: the state of today’s onboard entertainment centers.
They’re changing. Have you noticed?
Your friends, your buddies, your loved ones – they’re all changing.
It may be happening gradually or it may be happening all at once, but it’s happening. Their minds are being sucked in by the unseen force known as “digital fusion.”
At first, you thought this might be Phase One of some vast right-wing alien conspiracy to take over the Earth. “It starts with the boaters,” you thought to yourself. “It starts with the boaters.”
Your conspiracy theories were quickly dispelled, though, upon the discovery that you had merely been suffering the hallucinogenic side effects that come with mixing 16 bags of Cheetos and a dozen Big Gulps with a 24-hour marathon of “The X-Files.” Embarrassingly, you didn’t realize you were in the unshakable throes of a caffeine high until after you had already run out to the docks in your underwear and started yelling, “Control the water and you control the world!”
A few days later, after your Cheeto-induced haze had completely worn off and your fingers had almost returned to their natural color, you noticed that your friends were still acting differently. They were still stealing the remote control, changing television channels rapidly, switching back and forth between the DVD player, the VCR, the stereo system and the digital recorder – and sometimes using them all at once.
What?
You’ve started doing the same thing?
Oh my god! You’ve got it, too. You’ve got digital fusion!
Pretty cool, huh?
Resistance Is Futile
For those of you who are still a part of the analog video cult, it’s only a matter of time before digital video grabs you by the serial port and shakes you into submission. In fact, Uncle Sam demands it. As of 2007, U.S. television stations are required by law to broadcast entirely in digital format.
Your analog television will eventually become obsolete.
Don’t worry, though. With prices falling faster than Al Roker jumping hurdles in high heels, this is the perfect time for you to jump on board the digital bandwagon.
Digital technology allows for ultimate versatility. Your television can talk to your DVD player, which can talk to your personal computer, which can talk with just about any other digital device on the market.
In many cases, televisions, VCRs and other items are being fused into one multimedia device, saving you space and money. This is digital fusion.
Digital Fusion Archetypes
The Panasonic PV-DM2799 is a perfect example. The unit is a television/DVD-Video/VCR combination with an FM radio and a CD player.
You can listen to CDs, watch VHS videotapes, view DVDs, listen to the radio or watch regular television with this one unit. It even comes with VCR Plus+, virtual surround sound, and outputs for DTS and Dolby Digital decoders.
The PV-DM2799 retails for $999.95, which is much less than you would pay for the individual products necessary to get the same services. In addition, this all-in-one unit can save you a lot of valuable space aboard.
The ZapStation sets a new standard in digital fusion. Don’t be fooled by the fact that it looks like an ordinary DVD player. There’s no other product like it on the market.
With this one device, you can play audio CDs; download, store and play Windows Media files and MP3s through your onboard stereo system; play DVD movies through your television and stereo system; listen to Internet radio stations; browse the Web through your television; and check e-mail through your existing Web-based e-mail accounts (such as Hotmail and Yahoo).
ZapMedia’s ZapStation lets you store up to 10,000 songs or 20 hours of digital video. Use it to play streaming audio/video, or record CDs to your ZapStation hard drive and turn it into a digital jukebox. Once your CDs are saved to the hard drive, you can leave them back on dry land, saving you even more space.
The ZapStation retails for $899 and requires a phone connection for some services. There is also a monthly subscription fee ($9.95) for the ZapMedia service.
If you’re interested in changing your video library over to a digital format, the Terapin CD-R video/audio recorder can help. With the Terapin, you can transfer your videos to a CD, which can be then be played back on any multimedia PC or compatible DVD player.
All you have to do is put in a CD-R or CD-RW disc, and you can record straight from your camcorder or transfer old recordings from videotapes to CD. This is great for boaters, because CDs are much less vulnerable than tape to the damp sea air -- and they take up less space. Available from NewWave Technologies, the Terapin retails for $599.
Video Extravaganza
UltimateTV from Microsoft is another “fused” product. It is the first and only service to fully integrate DIRECTV programming, digital video recording, live television controls, interactive television and Internet access in one unit. It can even record two programs at the same time – so you’ll no longer have to choose between “The West Wing” and “Felicity.”
The DIRECTV receiver with UltimateTV service retails for between $450 and $550. There is an additional monthly service charge of $9.95, and DIRECTV is sold as a separate package. The UltimateTV box requires connection to a phone line when accessing the Internet or downloading program schedules, so you’ll need a shore connection or satellite phone system at those times.
Of course, to receive a television signal in the first place, you’re going to need a satellite television antenna. Datron, Sea Tel and KVH are three of the top marine satellite antenna system manufacturers.
Datron’s new CruiseTV STS is the lowest profile in-motion satellite television system on the market. Only 9.5 inches high, Datron’s advanced system ensures high-quality, reliable television reception.
The CruiseTV STS receives 200 channels from DIRECTV, making it the perfect UltimateTV companion. Datron’s CruiseTV STS retails for $3,295.
KVH is another manufacturer known for making quality marine in-motion satellite television antennas. The TracVision C3 is the company’s latest model.
With its low profile and low price, the TracVision C3 delivers DIRECTV, the DISH Network and Bell ExpressVu. This translates into over 300 channels of programming, including HDTV and Internet data broadcasts. KVH’s TracVision C3 retails for less than $3,500.
The MSV 2000, AKA the “Mighty Duck,” is one of Sea Tel’s premium marine antennas. The system allows you to watch different television programming or listen to digital music at the same time on separate televisions.
Sea Tel’s MSV 2000 retails for $3,595, making it the only system under $5,000 to offer unlimited azimuth turning. This assures reception no matter how often or how fast your boat turns.
If you don’t have the space and/or power for an onboard satellite television system, a portable DVD player is a great solution. Sharp’s DV-L80U is a prime example.
The DV-L80U’s 8-inch LCD screen is one of the largest found on a portable player. The DV-L80U has 16:9 widescreen capability and plays DVDs, CD-RWs, and video and audio CDs. It retails for $1,500.
Sharp is also the name behind the SharpVision LC-PD50U high-definition plasma display panel. This 50-inch flat screen is less than 4 inches deep, so it takes up very little space and can be hung right on the bulkhead.
The LC-PD50U sells for $19,995. That may sound a bit extravagant, but remember that this is no mere plasma screen; it’s a 50-inch high-definition plasma screen. The difference between high-definition television and conventional television screens is immediately obvious: You get 1,080 lines of movie-clear resolution, as opposed to the 330 to 480 lines found on a standard screen. That’s as top-of-the-line as it gets.
If you’re looking for something a tad smaller, Sharp also offers flat-screen monitors (sans HDTV) with color displays from 5 to 20 inches in diameter. They fit where you’d never be able to put a conventional television.
Aural Report
Once your eyes’ appetites have been sated, it’s only fair that you give your ears equal time. Clarion’s DXZ815MP is the perfect place to start.
The DXZ815MP is just like your regular onboard CD player, with one exception: It also plays MP3s. The player comes with a flip-down detachable face plate, colored accent plates, 18 FM channel presets and an infrared remote control. It retails for $749.
For those of you who are a little behind on the latest technobabble, MP3s are digital music files. That’s what all the Napster hubbub we’ve been bombarded with over the last year has been about; the sharing of MP3s for free. MP3 files can still be downloaded from the Internet -- some without charge, some with a fee.
MP3 players are all the rage right now. They’re great for boaters, because you can get CD-quality sound without the worries of a disc getting bumped off track by rough seas. MP3s are just bits of data, so there’s no CD or tape to mess with.
Optional MP3 player attachments are available for most personal data assistants (PDAs). Snap one in and you’re ready to go.
InnoGear’s MiniJam is one such attachment. The MiniJam can turn your Handspring Visor into one of the coolest-looking portable MP3 players available.
The moment a MiniJam is snapped into the back of a Visor, a launch window on the Visor display offers you the ability to listen to music, view images or slide shows, or read an e-Book. The player’s snazzy design makes it as attractive as it is utilitarian.
The 32 MB MiniJam retails for $199 and is available in ice and graphite colors.
First International Digital Inc., a spin-off of Motorola, has come up with one of the most innovative MP3 players on the market. The company’s Irock 650 plays standard MP3s, as well as files created using a new format called MP3i (short for MP3 interactive).
MP3i files allow content such as lyrics, photographs, album artwork and liner notes to be displayed simultaneously with the music. The Irock 650 also has a built-in microphone, for voice recording, making the device a mobile karaoke machine. (Yes, it’s true that even good technology can be used for evil.)
In addition to everything else, the Irock 650 has an FM receiver, so you can listen to your favorite radio stations. The player retails for $249.99.
Boaters may be able to appreciate digital fusion more than any other consumer group. After all, not only do we have the advantage of cool devices that do great new things, but we also save a lot of onboard space in the process – and a lot of weight, too.
Our onboard electronics at the helm and our onboard entertainment centers in the saloon are going digital simultaneously. They’re already becoming fused, and, in very little time, they will merge into a single digital unit.
Imagine how nice it will be to have a television with a four-way split screen. In one quadrant, you’ll be able to keep an eye on the radar; in another quadrant, you’ll be able to plot a course on the GPS/chart plotter; in the third quadrant, you can watch your favorite movie; and in the final quadrant, you can chat with friends online.
Of course, that’s assuming you still have any friends after that embarrassing display you put on back at the dock. Seeing you chase your dog around the marina in your underwear, calling the poor creature “Scully,” has left them all a bit unnerved.
CONTACTS
Panasonic*(800) 211-PANA; www.panasonic.com
ZapMedia*(678) 420-2700; www.zapmedia.com
Terapin (NewWave Technologies)*(800) 536-5222; www.newwavetech.com
UltimateTV*(877) ULTIMATE; www.ultimatetv.com
Datron*(877) 4-DATRON; www.datrondbs.com
KVH Industries Inc.*(401) 847-3327; www.kvh.com
Sea Tel*(888) 798-7979; www.seatel.com
Sharp*(800) BE-SHARP; www.sharp-usa.com
Clarion*(800) 347-8667; www.clarion-usa.com
MiniJam (InnoGear)*(877) 711-6778; www.innogear.com
Irock (First International Digital Inc.)*(847) 202-1900; www.myirock.com
*eot
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Haunted Star of India Feature for Sea Magazine
jcghosts10.doc/2,181 words/55”/Sea Oct 2000
HEAD: The Voyage of Lost Souls
SUBHEAD: Ghosts have haunted Star of India for over a century
By James Corns
Ships are like people: The older they get, the more stories they have to tell -- but sadly, those stories of the past aren’t always pleasant. Star of India has been sailing the oceans of the world for over a century, so the ship has seen its share of mirth and merriment, but it has also seen its share of tragedy and heartache.
As people grow older, their memories fade and they forget the stories -- but the ships don’t forget. Neither do the ghosts.
Imagine being on board Star of India in the 1800s. In those days, the ship wasn’t even called Star of India -- it was called Euterpe -- and it was a trading vessel that also served as a passenger ship.
Euterpe’s usual route was from England to New Zealand, carrying 400 people in search of a new life. The passengers were often men who had no money, no property and no job; and they were leaving their loved ones behind.
The men left their native land promising they would write or send for their families as soon as they could, but it often took years before even the luckiest families received tickets. Once they had the tickets, the families would then sell everything they owned and head to New Zealand on Euterpe.
Harsh Reality
Hundreds of people took the voyage over a 21-year period, and many of them wrote about the experience in their diaries. Joseph Ditler, development director of the San Diego Maritime Museum, has read many of the personal accounts and was touched by these words of the dead.
“It’s frightening to look back at the past with that much detail -- reading someone’s emotions spilled out on the page,” Ditler said. “People were miserable. It was a horrible trip. They were given up for lost several times.”
The voyage to New Zealand was a difficult one. Euterpe went around the Cape of Good Hope, which was a rough passage, and then came back around Cape Horn, which was also a challenge.
Ditler painted a bleak picture of life on board the ship in the 1800s. The hatches were covered, so there was no air ventilation belowdecks. Portholes were an experiment in boat building at the time, but the crew soon discovered that they couldn’t have the portholes open, because gallons of water poured in through them. Passengers who opened the portholes were severely punished.
If the thought of 400 sick people living in unventilated quarters for months at a time isn’t bad enough, consider this: One passenger wrote in his diary that he had awoken one morning to find that his few belongings were drifting back and forth in a concoction of seawater, bile and vomit.
“That was the reality of a voyage at sea in the 1800s,” Ditler said.
The Drunken Ghost
Given the awful conditions on board, it’s easy to see why some people wouldn’t be eager to make the voyage. First-class passenger Capt. F. McBarnet was one such man.
Capt. McBarnet was an Army captain, not the captain of a ship. The year was 1875, and he had most likely been given orders to go to New Zealand -- and he was unhappy about it. He had been drinking heavily before joining the ship, and witnesses claimed he was in a terrible fit of depression.
A few days into the journey, one of McBarnet’s fellow passengers noticed that he hadn’t come to dinner that night. When blood was found creeping from under the doorway of McBarnet’s cabin, Euterpe’s first mate took it upon himself to enter the room, and when he did so, he discovered that McBarnet had slashed his own neck, attempting suicide, but he was still alive. The doctor was summoned, but medical practices in 1875 were primitive in comparison to today’s treatments. His neck was stitched back up, and he was in stable condition, but there would be an awful scar.
After McBarnet’s neck had been stitched up, the crew moved him to the first mate’s cabin and left him to rest. His wound had made him delirious; so delirious, in fact, that when they came back to check on him a short while later, they discovered he had ripped out the stitches and completed the task. He was dead.
John Griffiths, a passenger on board, described the dismal event in his diary: “It has put a gloomy appearance on the ship. They brought him out of the bunk and put him on the main hatch to wait the inquest. The captain and passengers held the inquest, and it was brought in that he was insane when he attempted suicide.
“He was sewed up in a piece of sailcloth and buried about four hours after death had been pronounced. It was a fearful sight to see the blood all over the place after fetching him out.”
That was then, but it wasn’t until recently, about two years ago, that Capt. F. McBarnet was seen again -- as a ghost.
The San Diego Maritime Museum’s education director was sleeping in the first mate’s cabin, where McBarnet had died. She had brought a group of children on board for a “field trip,” and they had already been bunked down for the evening. She had locked herself in the cabin and fastened the portholes shut.
In the middle of the night, the director’s covers were ripped off her. When she awoke, she saw a bearded man looking down at her, right at her face. He had an angry countenance, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath.
“It scared the hell out of her,” Ditler said. “She started screaming.” She was afraid to even mention it, but she eventually told Ditler and he convinced her to talk about it -- to the History Channel.
The Ghost of the ‘Chinyman’
In 1900, Euterpe was sold to the Alaska Packers Association. The association bought several of the ships, which were derelicts at the time, and renamed them, depending on the country that had served as destination for the ship’s maiden voyage. Euterpe’s maiden voyage was to India, so she was renamed Star of India. There was also a Star of Shetlands, a Star of Zealand and a Star of Chile, among others.
In an unostentatious notation from 1909, Star of India’s logbook simply read: “1 Chinyman died.” At that time, the ship was making annual trips from Oakland to Bristol Bay, Alaska, carrying Chinese, Italian, and European emigrants north to fish for salmon.
More than 300 anglers were sometimes packed belowdecks. Gambling and drinking were only two of the vices that ran rampant during the trips north, but they were the two heaviest contributors to the deadly knife fights that were used to resolve arguments. Ironically enough, even the fights that had resulted from gambling disputes were bet upon by the anglers.
If you had walked through the belowdecks quarters at the time, your nostrils would have had a feast of smells to choose from. The various ethnic groups had all settled in various corners, each with their own distinct customs and languages. For instance, the Chinese emigrants’ territory smelled of opium, which many of them were addicted to.
The Asian cannery workers sometimes outnumbered the anglers almost three-to-one. Many of these men had come to America to help build a railroad; others had come to search for gold. They made a poor living fishing and canning salmon.
In 1909, one of these men met with an untimely death. His name is unknown, but written accounts say that this Chinese angler was standing in the chain locker as the ship weighed anchor for the trip south to Oakland. As he guided the large links of chain into position, he reportedly lost his balance. The chain kept coming down, and the clanking pawls of the capstan drowned out his screams for help. He was buried under a ton of iron anchor chain in a matter of minutes.
Once the ship was under way, the crew recovered what was left of his body and buried him overboard in what the ship log described as, “mountainous seas.”
In recent years, several visitors to Star of India have reported feeling a cold chill in the area of the ship where the angler died. Even when there was no wind and no way for a draft to enter the room, some people have claimed they felt a presence when no one was around.
According to Ditler, they all ask the same question when they approach the ticket taker or volunteer tour guides: “Did someone die here?” The area in question is always the same: the bosun’s locker, just above the chain locker. That was the place where, in the year 1909, “1 Chinyman died.”
The Ghost of Young John Campbell
1884 was an ill-fated year for Euterpe. Faced with bad luck and bad weather, the passengers and crew did the best they could to persevere.
The first piece of bad luck was the death of a seaman. He fell into the River Thames and drowned while trying to touch up some paint on the side. Soon thereafter, a passenger died of dropsy. Hurricanes and gales were also plentiful that year.
On April 9, 1884, as it was leaving the Clyde, Euterpe collided with the steamship Canadian. Repairs were hastily made, and the ship again set out for New Zealand.
A short time after Euterpe had cast off its tow, three youths were discovered stowed away. One of the stowaways was a 14-year-old Scottish boy named John Campbell.
Campbell had no family in England. He was poor and miserable, and he had been stealing food to survive. There was no turning around, so the captain had no other option but to let Campbell and the other two boys work for their passage.
Campbell jumped at the opportunity. The young boy had never worked aboard a ship before, but he was willing to learn. He became popular with Euterpe’s crew and was soon known for being eager, strong and unafraid of heights. He learned to hand, reef and steer with the crew as their apprentice, and the passengers all loved him. According to the captain’s log, he became invaluable.
When weather was fair and his duties were complete, Campbell enjoyed playing games with the other emigrant children. Tag was a popular game on board.
On June 26, 1884, John Campbell was going about his regular work, overhauling the main t’gallant buntlines, when he somehow managed to lose his balance and fell 100 feet to the deck. Log entries report that his legs were horribly mangled as he struck various objects on the way down. He died three days later -- mercifully, without ever regaining consciousness. He was buried at sea.
John Campbell had left behind a life of misery in Scotland for the hope of a new start in an untamed land. Until his tragic death, things had been looking up for the boy. He had found a “family,” of sorts, on board the ship. Many believe that his time spent on board Euterpe was the happiest of his life. When he died, he didn’t want to leave.
Today, numerous reports have come in from the ship’s early caretakers and ticket takers, to modern night security officers and overnight educational directors. They all shared the experience of being alone on the ship, in the dark of her bowels, and feeling someone’s finger in their back, carving the letter S, only to turn and see no one there.
The letter S would seem to have no importance, but it does: When the English and Scottish children played tag on board, they drew an S on the person instead of just tagging them. In fact, Campbell had been playing a game of tag on the deck of the Euterpe shortly before he was sent aloft to work on the buntlines that fateful day.
Experience the Paranormal
After Ditler told the story of John Campbell, he looked up to the heavens and said, “So, John, if you’re listening, I hope we’re doing you justice.”
As director of the San Diego Maritime Museum, Ditler has done an excellent job of maintaining the dignity of both the ship and the people of its past. At the same time, he and his crew at the museum have been successful at balancing the serious historical aspects with the fun of learning about the past in new ways.
If you’re interested in hearing and seeing more about the ghosts of Star of India, visit the ship between October 20 and 31, when the museum will be having special “Haunted Star of India” tours.
During the tour, professional actors dress in period garb and portray the true-life stories of the ship’s colorful past. If you’re looking for a unique family Halloween experience, the tour is an educational and historical experience like no other.
For more information on times and prices, contact the San Diego Maritime Museum: (619) 234-9153; www.sdmaritime.com; info@sdmaritime.com.
HEAD: The Voyage of Lost Souls
SUBHEAD: Ghosts have haunted Star of India for over a century
By James Corns
Ships are like people: The older they get, the more stories they have to tell -- but sadly, those stories of the past aren’t always pleasant. Star of India has been sailing the oceans of the world for over a century, so the ship has seen its share of mirth and merriment, but it has also seen its share of tragedy and heartache.
As people grow older, their memories fade and they forget the stories -- but the ships don’t forget. Neither do the ghosts.
Imagine being on board Star of India in the 1800s. In those days, the ship wasn’t even called Star of India -- it was called Euterpe -- and it was a trading vessel that also served as a passenger ship.
Euterpe’s usual route was from England to New Zealand, carrying 400 people in search of a new life. The passengers were often men who had no money, no property and no job; and they were leaving their loved ones behind.
The men left their native land promising they would write or send for their families as soon as they could, but it often took years before even the luckiest families received tickets. Once they had the tickets, the families would then sell everything they owned and head to New Zealand on Euterpe.
Harsh Reality
Hundreds of people took the voyage over a 21-year period, and many of them wrote about the experience in their diaries. Joseph Ditler, development director of the San Diego Maritime Museum, has read many of the personal accounts and was touched by these words of the dead.
“It’s frightening to look back at the past with that much detail -- reading someone’s emotions spilled out on the page,” Ditler said. “People were miserable. It was a horrible trip. They were given up for lost several times.”
The voyage to New Zealand was a difficult one. Euterpe went around the Cape of Good Hope, which was a rough passage, and then came back around Cape Horn, which was also a challenge.
Ditler painted a bleak picture of life on board the ship in the 1800s. The hatches were covered, so there was no air ventilation belowdecks. Portholes were an experiment in boat building at the time, but the crew soon discovered that they couldn’t have the portholes open, because gallons of water poured in through them. Passengers who opened the portholes were severely punished.
If the thought of 400 sick people living in unventilated quarters for months at a time isn’t bad enough, consider this: One passenger wrote in his diary that he had awoken one morning to find that his few belongings were drifting back and forth in a concoction of seawater, bile and vomit.
“That was the reality of a voyage at sea in the 1800s,” Ditler said.
The Drunken Ghost
Given the awful conditions on board, it’s easy to see why some people wouldn’t be eager to make the voyage. First-class passenger Capt. F. McBarnet was one such man.
Capt. McBarnet was an Army captain, not the captain of a ship. The year was 1875, and he had most likely been given orders to go to New Zealand -- and he was unhappy about it. He had been drinking heavily before joining the ship, and witnesses claimed he was in a terrible fit of depression.
A few days into the journey, one of McBarnet’s fellow passengers noticed that he hadn’t come to dinner that night. When blood was found creeping from under the doorway of McBarnet’s cabin, Euterpe’s first mate took it upon himself to enter the room, and when he did so, he discovered that McBarnet had slashed his own neck, attempting suicide, but he was still alive. The doctor was summoned, but medical practices in 1875 were primitive in comparison to today’s treatments. His neck was stitched back up, and he was in stable condition, but there would be an awful scar.
After McBarnet’s neck had been stitched up, the crew moved him to the first mate’s cabin and left him to rest. His wound had made him delirious; so delirious, in fact, that when they came back to check on him a short while later, they discovered he had ripped out the stitches and completed the task. He was dead.
John Griffiths, a passenger on board, described the dismal event in his diary: “It has put a gloomy appearance on the ship. They brought him out of the bunk and put him on the main hatch to wait the inquest. The captain and passengers held the inquest, and it was brought in that he was insane when he attempted suicide.
“He was sewed up in a piece of sailcloth and buried about four hours after death had been pronounced. It was a fearful sight to see the blood all over the place after fetching him out.”
That was then, but it wasn’t until recently, about two years ago, that Capt. F. McBarnet was seen again -- as a ghost.
The San Diego Maritime Museum’s education director was sleeping in the first mate’s cabin, where McBarnet had died. She had brought a group of children on board for a “field trip,” and they had already been bunked down for the evening. She had locked herself in the cabin and fastened the portholes shut.
In the middle of the night, the director’s covers were ripped off her. When she awoke, she saw a bearded man looking down at her, right at her face. He had an angry countenance, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath.
“It scared the hell out of her,” Ditler said. “She started screaming.” She was afraid to even mention it, but she eventually told Ditler and he convinced her to talk about it -- to the History Channel.
The Ghost of the ‘Chinyman’
In 1900, Euterpe was sold to the Alaska Packers Association. The association bought several of the ships, which were derelicts at the time, and renamed them, depending on the country that had served as destination for the ship’s maiden voyage. Euterpe’s maiden voyage was to India, so she was renamed Star of India. There was also a Star of Shetlands, a Star of Zealand and a Star of Chile, among others.
In an unostentatious notation from 1909, Star of India’s logbook simply read: “1 Chinyman died.” At that time, the ship was making annual trips from Oakland to Bristol Bay, Alaska, carrying Chinese, Italian, and European emigrants north to fish for salmon.
More than 300 anglers were sometimes packed belowdecks. Gambling and drinking were only two of the vices that ran rampant during the trips north, but they were the two heaviest contributors to the deadly knife fights that were used to resolve arguments. Ironically enough, even the fights that had resulted from gambling disputes were bet upon by the anglers.
If you had walked through the belowdecks quarters at the time, your nostrils would have had a feast of smells to choose from. The various ethnic groups had all settled in various corners, each with their own distinct customs and languages. For instance, the Chinese emigrants’ territory smelled of opium, which many of them were addicted to.
The Asian cannery workers sometimes outnumbered the anglers almost three-to-one. Many of these men had come to America to help build a railroad; others had come to search for gold. They made a poor living fishing and canning salmon.
In 1909, one of these men met with an untimely death. His name is unknown, but written accounts say that this Chinese angler was standing in the chain locker as the ship weighed anchor for the trip south to Oakland. As he guided the large links of chain into position, he reportedly lost his balance. The chain kept coming down, and the clanking pawls of the capstan drowned out his screams for help. He was buried under a ton of iron anchor chain in a matter of minutes.
Once the ship was under way, the crew recovered what was left of his body and buried him overboard in what the ship log described as, “mountainous seas.”
In recent years, several visitors to Star of India have reported feeling a cold chill in the area of the ship where the angler died. Even when there was no wind and no way for a draft to enter the room, some people have claimed they felt a presence when no one was around.
According to Ditler, they all ask the same question when they approach the ticket taker or volunteer tour guides: “Did someone die here?” The area in question is always the same: the bosun’s locker, just above the chain locker. That was the place where, in the year 1909, “1 Chinyman died.”
The Ghost of Young John Campbell
1884 was an ill-fated year for Euterpe. Faced with bad luck and bad weather, the passengers and crew did the best they could to persevere.
The first piece of bad luck was the death of a seaman. He fell into the River Thames and drowned while trying to touch up some paint on the side. Soon thereafter, a passenger died of dropsy. Hurricanes and gales were also plentiful that year.
On April 9, 1884, as it was leaving the Clyde, Euterpe collided with the steamship Canadian. Repairs were hastily made, and the ship again set out for New Zealand.
A short time after Euterpe had cast off its tow, three youths were discovered stowed away. One of the stowaways was a 14-year-old Scottish boy named John Campbell.
Campbell had no family in England. He was poor and miserable, and he had been stealing food to survive. There was no turning around, so the captain had no other option but to let Campbell and the other two boys work for their passage.
Campbell jumped at the opportunity. The young boy had never worked aboard a ship before, but he was willing to learn. He became popular with Euterpe’s crew and was soon known for being eager, strong and unafraid of heights. He learned to hand, reef and steer with the crew as their apprentice, and the passengers all loved him. According to the captain’s log, he became invaluable.
When weather was fair and his duties were complete, Campbell enjoyed playing games with the other emigrant children. Tag was a popular game on board.
On June 26, 1884, John Campbell was going about his regular work, overhauling the main t’gallant buntlines, when he somehow managed to lose his balance and fell 100 feet to the deck. Log entries report that his legs were horribly mangled as he struck various objects on the way down. He died three days later -- mercifully, without ever regaining consciousness. He was buried at sea.
John Campbell had left behind a life of misery in Scotland for the hope of a new start in an untamed land. Until his tragic death, things had been looking up for the boy. He had found a “family,” of sorts, on board the ship. Many believe that his time spent on board Euterpe was the happiest of his life. When he died, he didn’t want to leave.
Today, numerous reports have come in from the ship’s early caretakers and ticket takers, to modern night security officers and overnight educational directors. They all shared the experience of being alone on the ship, in the dark of her bowels, and feeling someone’s finger in their back, carving the letter S, only to turn and see no one there.
The letter S would seem to have no importance, but it does: When the English and Scottish children played tag on board, they drew an S on the person instead of just tagging them. In fact, Campbell had been playing a game of tag on the deck of the Euterpe shortly before he was sent aloft to work on the buntlines that fateful day.
Experience the Paranormal
After Ditler told the story of John Campbell, he looked up to the heavens and said, “So, John, if you’re listening, I hope we’re doing you justice.”
As director of the San Diego Maritime Museum, Ditler has done an excellent job of maintaining the dignity of both the ship and the people of its past. At the same time, he and his crew at the museum have been successful at balancing the serious historical aspects with the fun of learning about the past in new ways.
If you’re interested in hearing and seeing more about the ghosts of Star of India, visit the ship between October 20 and 31, when the museum will be having special “Haunted Star of India” tours.
During the tour, professional actors dress in period garb and portray the true-life stories of the ship’s colorful past. If you’re looking for a unique family Halloween experience, the tour is an educational and historical experience like no other.
For more information on times and prices, contact the San Diego Maritime Museum: (619) 234-9153; www.sdmaritime.com; info@sdmaritime.com.
Travel Feature on Cabo San Lucas for Boaters
jccabo2.doc/1,426 words/37”/Sea May 2001
HEAD: Through Jade-Colored Glasses
SUBHEAD: Experiencing Cabo San Lucas for the first time
By James Corns
I’m a very jaded person. It’s sad, but true.
I’m the kind of guy who could go to the Grand Canyon and think, “Nice hole.” A visit to Niagara Falls might rate an “I’ve seen wetter.”
I think it was Los Angeles that did it to me. After living in Hollywood for several years, very few things impress or surprise me anymore.
Cabo San Lucas is the rare exception.
Before visiting Cabo San Lucas, my only previous foray into Mexican territory had been a day trip to Tijuana – and, suffice it to say, I hadn’t been particularly impressed. All of my well-traveled friends assured me that Tijuana didn’t count as “real Mexico,” but I remained skeptical.
In fact, I remained very skeptical – until I’d been in Cabo for about five minutes. That’s all the time it took for me to fall in love with the place.
Within a few minutes of my arrival, I was relaxing on the beach and devouring the best chorizo quesadilla that had ever crawled across my taste buds. The sun was shining in a cloudless sky and I was virtually alone on the beach. It was as though I had paradise all to myself.
My friends were oh-so-right. This was nothing like Tijuana.
Could I? Should I?
If you’re wondering if the Cabo San Lucas experience is worth a cruise down the Baja Peninsula, wonder no longer. Without question, it is.
In fact, I can’t think of a better place on earth to have a boat. Marina Cabo San Lucas is well kept, and it punctures the heart of the city. The waters at the tip of the Baja Peninsula are the most beautiful turquoise I’ve ever seen.
Boaters who cruise down to the area can moor right off the coast – and I do mean right off the coast. The continental shelf drops off so steeply that even large boats can almost come up to shore.
On the Radio
When you arrive in Cabo San Lucas, use VHF Channel 88 to call the harbormaster’s office. The office will assign you a slip, where a uniformed member of the staff will be waiting to take your lines.
If you’re interested in picking up a mooring in the bay, use VHF Channel 68. You’ll be directed to one of the available two-point moorings.
Use VHF Channel 22 to listen in on the Cabo “Cruisers’ Net.” Broadcast at 8 a.m. daily, the net has updates on arriving and departing boats, local tides and weather.
Entering the Marina
Marina Cabo San Lucas has 338 full-service slips, which range from 25 to 130 feet in size. Boats between 130 and 196 feet can find Med-mooring in front of Plaza las Glorias.
The marina offers restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, a pumpout station (on D dock), 24-hour security, 110v and 220v dock power, satellite television and filtered water. The guest slip fee runs between $25 and $55 per day.
As you approach the marina, the first fuel dock you see is at the wooden pier near the old cannery. The second dock, Marinas de Baja, is a 120 foot floating end-tie with a prominent Pemex sign. The third fuel dock sits on the outer end of the marina’s L dock.
Eat, Drink and Be Feliz
Most of Cabo San Lucas’ best restaurants are within a five-minute walk from the marina. The malecon (marina boardwalk) snakes its way around the entire area, and many of the wonderful eateries are located right on the promenade.
My favorite restaurant, The Office, is located on Playa el Médano (Swimming Beach). Patrons dine on the beach as tiki torches set the mood.
One night, as my friends and I feasted on The Office’s surf-and-turf special, an inebriated reveler fell back in her chair and landed in the sand. The poor woman’s legs flailed in the air awkwardly, but, like a pro, she never spilled a drop of her sangria. Her dinner companions were laughing too hard to help her up from the ground – and so was I. (If my reaction sounds just a little cruel, it’s only because I’m underselling it.)
When the Lights Go Out … Sorta
The nightlife in Cabo San Lucas is amazingly varied. There are quiet, romantic places for midnight rendezvous, neighborhood bars for relaxing and downing a few cervesas, and rip-roaring nightclubs that allow you to dance and let off some steam.
After enjoying a few libations at Cosmic Oyster Bar (located inside the Hotel Hacienda Resort), I ventured out a few times to see what Cabo had to offer. I felt very safe walking along Lázaro Cárdenas, but I wouldn’t recommend venturing far from the beaten path at night.
If you like to get wild, you won’t be disappointed by The Giggling Marlin or Cabo Wabo Cantina. El Squid Roe was particularly lively on the night I stopped by – no doubt, because a U.S. Navy ship was moored in the bay and the sailors were on leave.
Pure Escapism
Cabo also has no shortage of daytime diversions. During my short stay, I discovered more escapist activities than I could ever find in Los Angeles. (Well, more legal ones, anyway.)
In addition to the region’s famed sportfishing (everyone in our group caught marlin when we were there), Cabo offers kayaking, horseback riding, snorkeling, diving, ATV riding, parasailing, whale watching, glass-bottom boat tours, museum tours, golfing, dune-buggy riding, shopping, hiking and camping – and almost every single one of these activities is within walking distance of the marina.
Sunbathing is one of my favorite pastimes, so I made sure to allow plenty of time for that. As I soaked in the rays at Playa el Médano, locals walked by and offered their wares for sale. The handmade trinkets included jewelry, sarongs, pottery, toys and other small items. If you don’t like being approached, there are marked peddle-free zones – but I didn’t mind.
I went into my Cabo San Lucas vacation with low expectations. Tijuana had shown me a small, unimpressive glimpse of Mexico, and, although my friends who had been to Cabo had only good things to say, I figured that very few things in life actually live up to the hype.
However, even now, as I sit here writing this article, I can say unequivocally that it was the best vacation I’ve ever had.
Cabo San Lucas may not be Paris; it may not be Rome; it may not even be Los Angeles – but who would want it to be?
HEAD: Cabo Contacts
There are more great restaurants, lodgings, tours and services than we can mention, but here are a few of the most popular:
(All numbers start with 011521 prefix, unless otherwise noted.)
Boating Facilities
Marina Cabo San Lucas*143-1251; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. and Sun., call (805) 985-6035 in the United States
Restaurants
The Office*143-3464; shrimp, lobster and steak to die for
Olé Olé*143-0633; Spanish “tapas” appetizers, paella on Sundays
O Mole Mio*143-7577; good selection of Mexican food and drink
The Shrimp Factory*143-5066; shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp
Bars and Grills
Billygan’s Island*143-0402; 12-7 p.m. happy hour
Cabo Wabo Cantina*143-1188; home of Cabo Wabo tequila
Cosmic Oyster Bar*143-0122, ext. 2107; part of the Hacienda Resort
El Squid Roe*143-0655; party central
The Giggling Marlin*143-1182; a local legend, with great seafood
Hard Rock Café* 143-3779; just like in the States
Latitude 22+*143-1516; anglers’ retreat
Margaritaville*143-0001; food, margaritas and other cocktails
Rio Grill*143-1335; live music
Sunrise Charlie’s*143-9096; a pool bar and restaurant in one
Lodging
Club Cascadas de Baja*143-0738; a luxury resort located on Playa el Médano
Hotel Finisterra*143-3333 or (800) 347-2252; three swimming pools and a spa tub
Hotel Hacienda Beach Resort*(800) SEE-CABO; Cabo’s original beachfront resort
Plaza las Glorias*143-1220; hotel complex located on the marina
Tours
Cabo Expeditions*143-2700; Kodiak rafting tours
The Glass Factory*143-0120; tour the factory, watch glass blowing
Kaleidoscope Catamaran Tours*148-7318; whale-watching tours and sunset tours
Pronatur/Pro-Tours*147-7037; champagne tours and whale-watching tours
Red Rose Riding Stables*143-4826; trail rides on horseback
Sandcar Tours Unlimited*142-1198; explore the coastline in a dune buggy
Golfing
Eldorado Golf Club*144-5451; at Cabo Real Resort
Palmilla*144-5250; 18 holes, course designed by Jack Nicklaus
Querencia*142-4435; course designed by Tom Fazio
Sportfishing
ABY Charters*143-0874; 22 to 52 foot boats available
Gaviota Sportfishing Fleet*143-0430; depart at 7 a.m., return at 3 p.m.
Minerva’s Baja Tackle*143-1282; charter boats and tackle
Picante! Sportfishing*143-2474; in front of Marina Fiesta Hotel
Pisces Fleet Sportfishing*143-1288; at the Cabo Maritime Center
Ursula’s Sportfishing*143-6964; boats with latest equipment
Web Sites
www.loscabosguide.com
www.allaboutcabo.com
*eot
HEAD: Through Jade-Colored Glasses
SUBHEAD: Experiencing Cabo San Lucas for the first time
By James Corns
I’m a very jaded person. It’s sad, but true.
I’m the kind of guy who could go to the Grand Canyon and think, “Nice hole.” A visit to Niagara Falls might rate an “I’ve seen wetter.”
I think it was Los Angeles that did it to me. After living in Hollywood for several years, very few things impress or surprise me anymore.
Cabo San Lucas is the rare exception.
Before visiting Cabo San Lucas, my only previous foray into Mexican territory had been a day trip to Tijuana – and, suffice it to say, I hadn’t been particularly impressed. All of my well-traveled friends assured me that Tijuana didn’t count as “real Mexico,” but I remained skeptical.
In fact, I remained very skeptical – until I’d been in Cabo for about five minutes. That’s all the time it took for me to fall in love with the place.
Within a few minutes of my arrival, I was relaxing on the beach and devouring the best chorizo quesadilla that had ever crawled across my taste buds. The sun was shining in a cloudless sky and I was virtually alone on the beach. It was as though I had paradise all to myself.
My friends were oh-so-right. This was nothing like Tijuana.
Could I? Should I?
If you’re wondering if the Cabo San Lucas experience is worth a cruise down the Baja Peninsula, wonder no longer. Without question, it is.
In fact, I can’t think of a better place on earth to have a boat. Marina Cabo San Lucas is well kept, and it punctures the heart of the city. The waters at the tip of the Baja Peninsula are the most beautiful turquoise I’ve ever seen.
Boaters who cruise down to the area can moor right off the coast – and I do mean right off the coast. The continental shelf drops off so steeply that even large boats can almost come up to shore.
On the Radio
When you arrive in Cabo San Lucas, use VHF Channel 88 to call the harbormaster’s office. The office will assign you a slip, where a uniformed member of the staff will be waiting to take your lines.
If you’re interested in picking up a mooring in the bay, use VHF Channel 68. You’ll be directed to one of the available two-point moorings.
Use VHF Channel 22 to listen in on the Cabo “Cruisers’ Net.” Broadcast at 8 a.m. daily, the net has updates on arriving and departing boats, local tides and weather.
Entering the Marina
Marina Cabo San Lucas has 338 full-service slips, which range from 25 to 130 feet in size. Boats between 130 and 196 feet can find Med-mooring in front of Plaza las Glorias.
The marina offers restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, a pumpout station (on D dock), 24-hour security, 110v and 220v dock power, satellite television and filtered water. The guest slip fee runs between $25 and $55 per day.
As you approach the marina, the first fuel dock you see is at the wooden pier near the old cannery. The second dock, Marinas de Baja, is a 120 foot floating end-tie with a prominent Pemex sign. The third fuel dock sits on the outer end of the marina’s L dock.
Eat, Drink and Be Feliz
Most of Cabo San Lucas’ best restaurants are within a five-minute walk from the marina. The malecon (marina boardwalk) snakes its way around the entire area, and many of the wonderful eateries are located right on the promenade.
My favorite restaurant, The Office, is located on Playa el Médano (Swimming Beach). Patrons dine on the beach as tiki torches set the mood.
One night, as my friends and I feasted on The Office’s surf-and-turf special, an inebriated reveler fell back in her chair and landed in the sand. The poor woman’s legs flailed in the air awkwardly, but, like a pro, she never spilled a drop of her sangria. Her dinner companions were laughing too hard to help her up from the ground – and so was I. (If my reaction sounds just a little cruel, it’s only because I’m underselling it.)
When the Lights Go Out … Sorta
The nightlife in Cabo San Lucas is amazingly varied. There are quiet, romantic places for midnight rendezvous, neighborhood bars for relaxing and downing a few cervesas, and rip-roaring nightclubs that allow you to dance and let off some steam.
After enjoying a few libations at Cosmic Oyster Bar (located inside the Hotel Hacienda Resort), I ventured out a few times to see what Cabo had to offer. I felt very safe walking along Lázaro Cárdenas, but I wouldn’t recommend venturing far from the beaten path at night.
If you like to get wild, you won’t be disappointed by The Giggling Marlin or Cabo Wabo Cantina. El Squid Roe was particularly lively on the night I stopped by – no doubt, because a U.S. Navy ship was moored in the bay and the sailors were on leave.
Pure Escapism
Cabo also has no shortage of daytime diversions. During my short stay, I discovered more escapist activities than I could ever find in Los Angeles. (Well, more legal ones, anyway.)
In addition to the region’s famed sportfishing (everyone in our group caught marlin when we were there), Cabo offers kayaking, horseback riding, snorkeling, diving, ATV riding, parasailing, whale watching, glass-bottom boat tours, museum tours, golfing, dune-buggy riding, shopping, hiking and camping – and almost every single one of these activities is within walking distance of the marina.
Sunbathing is one of my favorite pastimes, so I made sure to allow plenty of time for that. As I soaked in the rays at Playa el Médano, locals walked by and offered their wares for sale. The handmade trinkets included jewelry, sarongs, pottery, toys and other small items. If you don’t like being approached, there are marked peddle-free zones – but I didn’t mind.
I went into my Cabo San Lucas vacation with low expectations. Tijuana had shown me a small, unimpressive glimpse of Mexico, and, although my friends who had been to Cabo had only good things to say, I figured that very few things in life actually live up to the hype.
However, even now, as I sit here writing this article, I can say unequivocally that it was the best vacation I’ve ever had.
Cabo San Lucas may not be Paris; it may not be Rome; it may not even be Los Angeles – but who would want it to be?
HEAD: Cabo Contacts
There are more great restaurants, lodgings, tours and services than we can mention, but here are a few of the most popular:
(All numbers start with 011521 prefix, unless otherwise noted.)
Boating Facilities
Marina Cabo San Lucas*143-1251; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. and Sun., call (805) 985-6035 in the United States
Restaurants
The Office*143-3464; shrimp, lobster and steak to die for
Olé Olé*143-0633; Spanish “tapas” appetizers, paella on Sundays
O Mole Mio*143-7577; good selection of Mexican food and drink
The Shrimp Factory*143-5066; shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp
Bars and Grills
Billygan’s Island*143-0402; 12-7 p.m. happy hour
Cabo Wabo Cantina*143-1188; home of Cabo Wabo tequila
Cosmic Oyster Bar*143-0122, ext. 2107; part of the Hacienda Resort
El Squid Roe*143-0655; party central
The Giggling Marlin*143-1182; a local legend, with great seafood
Hard Rock Café* 143-3779; just like in the States
Latitude 22+*143-1516; anglers’ retreat
Margaritaville*143-0001; food, margaritas and other cocktails
Rio Grill*143-1335; live music
Sunrise Charlie’s*143-9096; a pool bar and restaurant in one
Lodging
Club Cascadas de Baja*143-0738; a luxury resort located on Playa el Médano
Hotel Finisterra*143-3333 or (800) 347-2252; three swimming pools and a spa tub
Hotel Hacienda Beach Resort*(800) SEE-CABO; Cabo’s original beachfront resort
Plaza las Glorias*143-1220; hotel complex located on the marina
Tours
Cabo Expeditions*143-2700; Kodiak rafting tours
The Glass Factory*143-0120; tour the factory, watch glass blowing
Kaleidoscope Catamaran Tours*148-7318; whale-watching tours and sunset tours
Pronatur/Pro-Tours*147-7037; champagne tours and whale-watching tours
Red Rose Riding Stables*143-4826; trail rides on horseback
Sandcar Tours Unlimited*142-1198; explore the coastline in a dune buggy
Golfing
Eldorado Golf Club*144-5451; at Cabo Real Resort
Palmilla*144-5250; 18 holes, course designed by Jack Nicklaus
Querencia*142-4435; course designed by Tom Fazio
Sportfishing
ABY Charters*143-0874; 22 to 52 foot boats available
Gaviota Sportfishing Fleet*143-0430; depart at 7 a.m., return at 3 p.m.
Minerva’s Baja Tackle*143-1282; charter boats and tackle
Picante! Sportfishing*143-2474; in front of Marina Fiesta Hotel
Pisces Fleet Sportfishing*143-1288; at the Cabo Maritime Center
Ursula’s Sportfishing*143-6964; boats with latest equipment
Web Sites
www.loscabosguide.com
www.allaboutcabo.com
*eot
Monday, July 10, 2006
RESUME
JAMES J. CORNS
(619) 322-1313
jamescorns@yahoo.com
Writing ~ Editing ~ Marketing ~ Communications
Dynamic, meticulous leader with undeniable success as a writer and editor. Versatile writing portfolio includes everything from editorial and ad copy to direct mail and press releases. Excellent communicator who can focus on the big picture without losing sight of the details.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Applied Marine Technology, Inc. (AMTI)
Editor, West Coast Operations Division February -- 2005 to August 2006
San Diego, CA
· Edited all official documents disseminated by AMTI’s West Coast office. Correspondence included everything from formal business letters and monthly reports to white papers and intra-company announcements.
· Edited multiple field training manuals, which are used by Naval Special Warfare to train U.S. Navy SEALs in the proper tactics, techniques, and procedures of combat. Took technical information and made it understandable to the regular soldier in training. (Subjects included Air Operations, Close Quarters Combat, Breaching, et al.)
· Co-wrote and edited all proposals sent to local and state governments by the West Coast office, ensuring that the documents met all Request For Proposal (RFP) standards and answered all parts of the Statement Of Work (SOW).
· Interacted with upper-level military and government personnel on-site at Naval Special Warfare Command.
· Active Government Clearance: TOP SECRET.
Self-Employed
Freelance Writer/Marketing Specialist February -- 2004 to February 2005
San Diego, CA
· Sole marketing specialist for Groovy Like a Movie, the local film production company responsible for filming all events held at the San Diego Sports Arena, including the games of the San Diego Gulls and Sockers. Verifiable success at getting press release materials placed in national magazines and the local press.
· Articles for Go Boating magazine appeared as recently as the October 2004 issue.
· Authored two full-length motion picture screenplays and two sitcom teleplays, all of which are currently available for competition and agent consideration.
Duncan McIntosh Co., Inc.
Editor, Go Boating Magazine -- May 2002 to February 2004
Assistant Editor, Go Boating Magazine -- February 1999 to May 2002
Assistant Editor, Sea Magazine -- February 1999 to February 2004
Irvine, CA
· Raised the quality of editorial content and called for a stricter use of AP style.
· Specialized in making complicated topics easy for readers to understand and digest.
· Wrote editorial features and new stories, press releases, ad copy, direct mail, brochures, online copy, and media kits.
· Oversaw editorial staff and freelancers (more than a dozen people).
· Tracked all editorial materials and artwork; procured new writers and photographers.
· Tested and reviewed a vast array of products, for inclusion in the magazine and its online portal.
· During my time as editor, Go Boating went from an average of 80 pages per issue to an average of 96 pages, and from being published six times a year to eight times. Circulation increased, surpassing 100,000 subscribers.
· Assisted with public relations and marketing for the annual Newport In-Water Boat Show.
· Interacted with peers in the industry, including the heads of large corporations. Traveled throughout the United States and parts of Europe.
Genre Publishing
Copy Editor, Genre Magazine -- April 1998 to August 1998
Hollywood, CA
· First and last person to see all copy.
· Wrote copy, researched stories, edited solicited materials, and checked for continuity.
Aaron Brothers
Assistant Store Manager -- December 1997 to April 1998
Santa Monica, CA
· Managed a custom framing and art supplies retail store in its entirety, with great emphasis on meeting a deadline.
EDUCATION
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
Public Affairs (Management)
Bachelor of Science
1994
Dean’s List
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
PC and Mac literate
Eight years’ experience working with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) on a daily basis
Additional experience with Adobe Acrobat (Reader), Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop
Well-versed in both Associated Press (AP) and Chicago styles
Active Government Clearance: TOP SECRET
(619) 322-1313
jamescorns@yahoo.com
Writing ~ Editing ~ Marketing ~ Communications
Dynamic, meticulous leader with undeniable success as a writer and editor. Versatile writing portfolio includes everything from editorial and ad copy to direct mail and press releases. Excellent communicator who can focus on the big picture without losing sight of the details.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Applied Marine Technology, Inc. (AMTI)
Editor, West Coast Operations Division February -- 2005 to August 2006
San Diego, CA
· Edited all official documents disseminated by AMTI’s West Coast office. Correspondence included everything from formal business letters and monthly reports to white papers and intra-company announcements.
· Edited multiple field training manuals, which are used by Naval Special Warfare to train U.S. Navy SEALs in the proper tactics, techniques, and procedures of combat. Took technical information and made it understandable to the regular soldier in training. (Subjects included Air Operations, Close Quarters Combat, Breaching, et al.)
· Co-wrote and edited all proposals sent to local and state governments by the West Coast office, ensuring that the documents met all Request For Proposal (RFP) standards and answered all parts of the Statement Of Work (SOW).
· Interacted with upper-level military and government personnel on-site at Naval Special Warfare Command.
· Active Government Clearance: TOP SECRET.
Self-Employed
Freelance Writer/Marketing Specialist February -- 2004 to February 2005
San Diego, CA
· Sole marketing specialist for Groovy Like a Movie, the local film production company responsible for filming all events held at the San Diego Sports Arena, including the games of the San Diego Gulls and Sockers. Verifiable success at getting press release materials placed in national magazines and the local press.
· Articles for Go Boating magazine appeared as recently as the October 2004 issue.
· Authored two full-length motion picture screenplays and two sitcom teleplays, all of which are currently available for competition and agent consideration.
Duncan McIntosh Co., Inc.
Editor, Go Boating Magazine -- May 2002 to February 2004
Assistant Editor, Go Boating Magazine -- February 1999 to May 2002
Assistant Editor, Sea Magazine -- February 1999 to February 2004
Irvine, CA
· Raised the quality of editorial content and called for a stricter use of AP style.
· Specialized in making complicated topics easy for readers to understand and digest.
· Wrote editorial features and new stories, press releases, ad copy, direct mail, brochures, online copy, and media kits.
· Oversaw editorial staff and freelancers (more than a dozen people).
· Tracked all editorial materials and artwork; procured new writers and photographers.
· Tested and reviewed a vast array of products, for inclusion in the magazine and its online portal.
· During my time as editor, Go Boating went from an average of 80 pages per issue to an average of 96 pages, and from being published six times a year to eight times. Circulation increased, surpassing 100,000 subscribers.
· Assisted with public relations and marketing for the annual Newport In-Water Boat Show.
· Interacted with peers in the industry, including the heads of large corporations. Traveled throughout the United States and parts of Europe.
Genre Publishing
Copy Editor, Genre Magazine -- April 1998 to August 1998
Hollywood, CA
· First and last person to see all copy.
· Wrote copy, researched stories, edited solicited materials, and checked for continuity.
Aaron Brothers
Assistant Store Manager -- December 1997 to April 1998
Santa Monica, CA
· Managed a custom framing and art supplies retail store in its entirety, with great emphasis on meeting a deadline.
EDUCATION
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
Public Affairs (Management)
Bachelor of Science
1994
Dean’s List
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
PC and Mac literate
Eight years’ experience working with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) on a daily basis
Additional experience with Adobe Acrobat (Reader), Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop
Well-versed in both Associated Press (AP) and Chicago styles
Active Government Clearance: TOP SECRET
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